Rail anchor



March 8, 1927.;

H. G. WARR 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 8, 1921-,- 1,619,902

b a INIMIIIHIIYHllllilill 1,619,902 March 8, 1927. G. WARE RAIL ANCHOR Filed Jan. 13, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet w W i l atented Mar. 8, 1927.

unirso STAT rarnir itiaaez HAROLD e. warm, or Penn nines, ILLINOIS, assrsnon TO 'rnn r a M ooMrANY; on onroaeo, rumors, A oonrona'rron or ILLINOIS.

RAIL Ancnon.

Application filed January 13, 1926. Serial No. 80,982.

This invention relates to rail anchors of the general type, adapted to grip the base portion of a railroad rail. The pr nclpal object of the invention is to provide an improved one-piece anchor device having mean for gripping the base flange of the rail at opposite sides of the rail which'gr p ping means is so disposed that the device may be engaged with one base flange of the rail andthen moved transversely of the rail to its normal rail gripping position.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a one-piece anchor in which the arrangement of elements is such as to effect a strong grip of thejaws onthe rail base, which grip is effected in part by a wedging action of one of the jaws, and by a spring grip resulting from distortion of the. anchor body or of the jaw portions thereof during the application of the device to a rail. The invention also con-- templates, in an anchor of the above character, means for locking the anchor in its applied position.

Another object is to provide an arrangement of jaws whereby one jaw of the anchor may be hooked over one flange of a rail base without stressing the anchor, but which is subjected to an initial stress to permit the application of the other jaw and whereby said initial stress will be partially relieved by movement of the anchor transversely of the rail to its normal operative position, in which position the spring pressure result ing from the said initial stress tends to effect ashackle grip of the device on the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base.

A, further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a one-piece rail anchor having a jaw portion adapted to be driven transversehz of the rail base into wedging engagement with said base, which jaw is so disposed with relation to the body of the device as to increase the effective gripping width of said jaw relative to the width of the metal stock from which the anchor is made.

' The invention has for still further objects, the provision of the new and improved arrangements and constructions of elements shown in the attached drawings, and which will be hereinafter set forth in the description of the invention.

The invention is illust *ated in certain preferred embodiments in the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the base portion of a railroad rail showing a rail anchor constructed in accordance with the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a cross section through the base portion of a railroad rail showing the rail anchor device in side elevation.

Fig. 8 is an end View looking from the left of Fig. 2. I v

Fig. i is a view in perspective of the embodiment of the invention shown in the preceding figures. I

Figs, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are Views similar ,to those of Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, but show a modified form of anchor device, and

and to provide jaws 11 and 12 at opposite ends of the yoke, adapted to bear against the topsurfaceof the rail base at opposite sides of the rail, Both jaws are offset with respect to the body of the yoke by bending the portions 1314 laterally of the body in opposite directions. The jaw 11 is preferably offseta greater distance from the-body of the y'okethan the jaw 12. The amount of offset of'jaw 11 is suchthat the effective width of the recess underlying the jaw may be increased by tilting the anchor while applying it to the initial position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The offset position of jaw 11. in addition to increasing the effective width of the recess, provides greater flexibility at this end ofthe anchor, whereby the initial distortion (to be hereinafter described) of the anchor will be distributed throughout the body of the anchor and the angular portion 13 at the end thereof.

base flanges of different thickness, without subjecting-the anchor to excessive distortion.

is preferably suchas to increase the effective ll ith the above construction the anchor may be readily applied to rail of a rail base a distance sufficient to permit the inner end of the shorter jaw 12 to clear the opposite edge of the rail base.

The upper edge 15 of the anchor body adjacent the jaw 11 is formed with a shoulder 17 adapted to snap over the lower edge of the trail base. when the anchor is moved to its normal operative position on the rail. inner edge 18 of the angularly disposed portion li normally bearsagainst the edge of the rail base opposite to that engaged by the shoulder 1'7, but actual engagement of the portion 1a with the rail at this point is not essential since the grip at this end of the yoke is effected principally by reason of a combined wedging engagement and shackle grip of the anchor upon the top and. bottom surfaces of the rail base.

In applying the yoke to a rail, the jaw 11 is first hooked over one edge of a rail base as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The anchor may be applied in this position without straining the jaws, by simply tilting the lower edge of the yoke away from the adjacent. cross tie, thereby making the dimension X the eifectivewidth of the rail base receiving recess. The jaw 11 and the upper edge 15 of the yoke may then be brought into gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base by tilting the yoke in the opposite direction, to the position shown in Fig. The jaw end 12 may be raised so as to clear the upper edge of the rail base at the side of the rail opposite to that engaged by the aw 11. During this movement the jaw 11 is rocked downwardly upon the top of the rail base and the body portion and the angular portion '13 of the yoke are stressed by a twisting movement of the jaw end 12 of the yoke. After the yoke is twisted to such position as will permit the jaw 12 to be hooked over the base flange of the rail the entire yoke is moved bodily transversely of the rail, that is, from the dotted line position of Fig. 2 to the full line position. When the yoke is moved to the full line position, the shoulder 1? snaps over the lower corner of the railbase so as to lock the anchor in its applied position. The transverse movement of the yoke forces the jaw 12 upon the inclined surface of the rail base at one side of the rail and thereby tends to increase the torsional stress of the yoke. The torsional stress of the yoke. is partially relieved, however, by the movement of the jaw 11 downwardly on the inclined surface of the rail base at the opposite side of the rail.

In an anchor constructed as above de-. scribed and applied to the base of a rail,

The

the initial grip produced by the torsional stress of the yoke will be increased on the upper and lower surfaces of the rail base by any tendency of the yoke to tilt under the influence of creeping pressure.

In Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, a modified form of the invention is illustrated in which the small jaw 12 instead of being offset on horizontal lines as shown in Figs 1 to 4 inclusive is offset on vertical lines indicated by the reference character 12. The end of 'theyoke adjacent the short jaw 12 is formed with an angular reinforcement 12 This angular portion, in addition to strengthening this end of the anchor, provides a wide striking face to receive hammer blows when driving the yoke transversely of the rail. The longer jaw 11 instead of being offsetlaterally, is, bent forwardly at an angle. to the body of the yoke and thereby provides the desiredwidth of recess to permit its initial application in substantiallythe same manner as described in connection wth Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. The under surface of. this jaw is formed with a shoulder 1.7 which snaps over the edge of the rail base when the yoke is moved to its applied position. The body portion of the yoke in this embodiment is preferably given a normal torsional set in the direction opposite to the direction in which the jaw 11 extends, so that in moving the jaw end 12 from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7, to the full line position, the lower edge of the jaw 11 is pressed firmly down against the top surfaceof the rail base by spring pressure. the tendency which the yoke has to return to the position from which it was torsioned, presses the jaw 12 firmly against the top surface of the rail base.

The above embodiment of the invention may be applied to the rail in substantially the same manner as that described in connection with Figs. 1to f, inclusive. In addition to the spring pressure developed by the torsion of the yoke, the jaw 12 takes a wedging grip on the base flange of the rail. The initial torsion of the spring, it will be seen, is partly relieved by the movement of the long arm 11 downwardly upon the inclined surface of the rail base, when driving the anchor to its applied position. hen the anchor is driven home. thefspring pressure forces the shoulder 17 down over the upper corner of the rail base, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to lock the anchor against movement in the direction from which it was driven. The width of the recess 10 is preferably such as to, effect a firm wedging grip on the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base when the anchor is in its applied position, and the initial torsion of the anchor is preferably such that a porton of the torsion remains after the shoulder 17 has snapped down over the upper edge oftherail base.

is bent to a U-shaped configuration, so as'to provide spaced rail engaging members 11 and 11. The free end of the jaw 11 is provided with a depending shoulder 17", which snaps down over the edge of the rail base when the anchor is driven to its applied position. By providing the long jaw end of the anchor with spaced jaws 11311, as shown in this form of the invention, the effective width of the rail base receiving recess is in creased by tilting the anchor in the same manner as that of Figs. 1 to at, inclusive,and Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, The small jaw 19 of this modification is formed, in the same plane as the body portion of the yoke, but takes a wedging and shackle grip on the rail in the same manner as the other embodiments heretofore described.

In other respects the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive, may be, and preferably is, the same asqthat illustrated in the embodimentshown inFigs. 5 to 8, inclusive of the drawings, and is applied in the same manner as the embodiments previously described.

lVhil-e the invention has been illustrated in connection with three specific emb0di ments, it will be obvious to those familiar with the art to which this invention appertains, that other modifications in structure might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It should, therefore, be understood that the invention contemplates all such changes in construction as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

' 1. A rail anchor adapted to be moved bodily relative to the rail to its rail gripping position comprising a yoke member, the body portion of which is formed with a substantially straight upper edge adapted to bear against the bottom surface of a rail base, and provid-ed'at opposite ends with angularly disposed jaw portions adapted to lit over opposite longitudinal. edges of said rail base and bear against the upper surface thereof.

2. A rail anchor adapted to be driven transversely of a rail to its applied position, comprising a yoke member, the body portion of which bears against the bottom surface of the rail base, and provided at opposite ends with jaws offset laterally with relation to the body, and adapted to grip the top surface of the rail base.

3. A rail anchor adapted to be driven transversely of the rail to its applied position, comprising a yoke member, the body portion of which bears against the bottom surface of the rail base, and provided at opposite ends with jaws offset laterally with respect to the body and at opposite sides thereof and adapted to bear against the top surface of the rail baseadjacent opposite edges of the rail. 7

4. A rail anchor adapted to be driven transversely of the rail to its applied position, comprising a yoke member, the body portion of which bears against the bottom surface of the rail base, and provided at opposite ends with jaws offset laterally with respect to the body and disposed at opposite sides thereof so as to bear against the top surface of the rail base at opposite sides of the rail; one end of said yoke being provided with a shoulder adapted tosnap over one edge of the rail base when the anchor is moved to itsv applied position. j

5. A rail anchor comprising a yoke recessed to provide at one end a relatively long jaw adapted to be hooked over one edge of the rail base, and at the other end a relatively short jaw adapted to be forced into gripping enga ement with said base by .movement of the. yoke, transversely of the rail; the said jaws being offset with relation to the body on opposite sides thereof.

6(A rail anchor comprising a yokerecessed to provide at one enda relatively long aw adapted to be hooked over one'edge of the rail base a nd at tie other end with a relatively short jaw adapted to be forced into gripping engagement with said'base by movement of the yoke transversely of the rail; the said jaws being otlset'in opposite directions with relationlto the yoke body and the offset of one jaw that of the other.

7. A rail anchor comprising a yoke recessed to provide at one end a relatively long jaw adapted to be hooked over one edge of a-rail base, and at the other end a relatively short jaw adapted to be forced into gripping engagement with said baseby movement of the yoke transversely of the rail'; one of said jaws being-offset with relation to the body of the device and disposed in a horizontal position with relation to the body, and the vertical dimension ofthe recess underlying said first mentioned aw being normally less than the thickness of the base when the yoke is ina' normal. vertical position whereby distortion of the yoke is necessary in applying the anchor to a rail.

8. A rail anchorcomprising a yoke re c-essed to provide at one end a relatively long aw adapted to be hooked over one edge of a. rail base and to provide at the other end a jaw adaptedto be forced into gripping engagement with said base by movement of the yoke transversely of the'rail; one of said jaws being offset on a vertical line with. re lation to the body of the yoke.

9. A rail anchor adapted to be driven transversely of the rail to its applied position, comprising a yoke member formed at one end with a spring jaw and at the other end with a aw adapted to take a wedging being greater than grip on the rail base; said last mentioned jaw being offset with relation tothe yoke, and disposed parallel to said. yoke body.

10. A rail anchor adapted to be driven transversely of the rail to its applied position, comprising a yoke member formed at one end with a spring jaw and at the other end with a jaw adapted to take a wedging grip on the rail base; said last mentioned jaw being offset with relation to the yoke and disposed parallel to said yoke body, and the said yoke being prO idedwith a normal torsional set, when the anchor is free of the rail, whereby it is necessary to twist said body in a direction to straighten out said set in applying the anchor to a rail.

11. A rail anchor adapted to be driven transversely of the rail to its applied position, comprising a yoke member formed at one end with a'spring jaw and at the other end with a jaw adapted to take a wedging grip on the rail base; said last mentioned aw being offset with relation to the yoke along vertical lines and disposed parallel tosaid yoke body, and the end of the yoke adjacent said last mentioned jaw being formed with a reinforcing angular portion,

12. A rail anchor adapted to be driven transversely ofthe rail to its applied position, comprising a yoke member formed at one end with a relatively long angularly disposed jaw, and at the other end with a jaw offset laterally of the yoke, and disposed parallel thereto, a portion of the yoke ad: jacent said last mentioned jaw being bent at an angle to the body portion of the yoke, for the purpose deseribed.

13 A rail anchor adapted to be driven transversely of the rail to its applied position, comprising a yoke formed at one end with a relatively long angularly disposed spring jaw, formed with a shoulder adapted to snap over the edge of the rail base, and formed at the other end with a jaw offset laterally of the yoke, and disposed parallel thereto, the portion of the yoke adjacent said last mentioned jaw being formed with a re: inforced angular portion.

' 14-. A rail anchor adapted to be driven transversely of the rail to its applied. position comprising a yoke formed at one end with a relatively long angularly disposed spring aw, formed with a shoulder adapted to snap over-one edge of the rail base, and formed at the other end with a jaw offsetlaterally of the yoke and disposed parallel thereto, the portion of the yoke intermediate said jaws being provided with a normalitorsional set when the anchor is free of. the rail, whereby the yoke is torsioned by a turning movement of the last mentioned jaw in a direction tending to straighten out'saidtorsional set.

15. A rail anchor comprising a yoke formed at one end with a jaw portion adapted to be hooked over one flange of a rail base,.and provided. wit-h a shoulder adapted to snap over the adjacent edge of said base and formed at the other end with a jaw adapted to be driven into engagement with the other flangeof the base-whereby a combined wedging and shackle grip on the upper and lower surfaces of the'railbase is effected.

16. A rail anchor comprising yoke formed with jaws for engaging the flanges of a rail base at opposite sides of the rail. one of said jaws being bent to provide clear ance to permit the other jaw to clear the oppos te edge of the rail base, and provided with a shoulder adapted to snap over the adjacent edge of the rail base when the anchor is applied to the rail; the said other jaw being formed to grip the upper and lower surfaces of the rail base by combined wedging and shackle grip. A

17. rail anchor comprising a yoke formed at its ends with jaw portions for en,- gaging the flanges of a. rail base at opposite sides of the rail, one of said jaws being formed to provide clearance to permit the other jaw to be moved into preliminary po,. sit-ion at the opposite side of the rail, and said other jaw being offset with relation to the body of the yoke and disposed parallel thereto and adapted to be drij'ren into gripping engagement with one edge of therail base; the position of said jaws being such whereby any tendency of the yoke to rock under the influence of creeping pressure, in creases the grip of said last mentioned jaw on the upper and lower surfaces ofthe rail base.

18. A rail anchor comprising a yoke member formed at one end with a jaw portion for gripping the top and bottom surfaces of a rail base, and at the other end with a spring jaw adapted to grip the top of the rail base at the oppositeside of the rail; the spring jaw end of the anchor being formed with a shoulder adapted to snap over the edge of the rail base.

HAROLD e. WARE. 

